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(No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. GONROY. Machine for Forming Plugs I .No. 234,966. Patented Nov.30,1880.

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(No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E.- GONROY. Machine for Forming Plugs. No. 234,966. x Pate ntedNow-30,1880.

Ryan/1301i Witness as N.PETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAFHER. WASHINGYON, D 04UNITED STATES PATENT EEicE.

EDWARD OONROY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-THIRDS TOROBERT M. LILLEY, OF SAME PLACE.

MACHINE FOR FORMING PLUGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 234,966, dated November30, 1880.

Application filed April 15, 1880.

To all whom "it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD OoNRoY, of Boston, in the county of Sufiolkand State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements inMachines for Forming Plugs, Ro-

settes, Corks, &c., of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide means for rapidly formingplugs, rosettes, 1o corks, and other cylindrical bodies from wood orother material, and insuring uniformity of size and shape in all thearticles of a given kind so long as it is desired to produce articles ofa uniform size. This invention also has for its object to provide meansfor forming a tapering cork and for cutting a hole in the cork, so thatthe core removed from the cork in forming the hole may be utilized as asmall cork.

To these ends the invention consists, chiefly, in a lathe-chuck having aseries of radially-adjustable jaws, each jaw carrying a cutting tool ortools adapted to operate, as hereinafter described, on a piece of wood,cork, or other ma- 2 5 terial held at right angles to the axis of thechuck.

The invention also consists in the provision of means for automaticallymoving the cutters while they are in operation, whereby they are causedto form a tapering cork or other article.

The invention also consists in the provision of means for perforating acork or other article while it is being formed, all of which I will nowproceed to describe.

Ofthe accompanying drawings,formingpart of this specification, Figure 1represents an end view of a chuck for cutting plugs embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3represents an end view of the scroll of the chuck. Fig. 4

represents a side view of a modified form for cutting rosettes. Fig. 5represents a view of a lathe, on a reduced scale, embodying myinvention. Fig. 6 represents an end view, showing a modification of myinvention for cutting tapering corks. Figs. 7 8, and 9 representsections on line a; at, Fig. 6, showing different parts of theoperation. Fig. 9 shows amodification.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all thefigures.

(No model.)

In carrying out my invention 1 provide a lathe-chuck, a, having jaws b bb, which are radially adj ustable-that is, toward and from the center ofthe chuck.

I prefer to employ a so-called universal or scroll chuck having a rotaryplate, a, provided with a scroll, a engaging with rack-teeth 1) formedon thejaws Z), the latter sliding out or in when the plate a is rotatedthrough radial slots in the face of the chuck.

A chuck constructed as described, with jaws adapted to co-operate ingrasping a drill or other rotary tool placed between them, is wellknown, and is no part of my invention. 6

I modify the construction of the chuck by providing each jaw with anextension or toolholder, 0, which is rigidly attached to or is formed inthe same piece with the jaw. To each of those tool-holders I attach ascoring or cutting tool, 01, which extends longitudinally of the holderand is substantially parallel with the axial center of the chuck. Thepoints of the cutters cl are equidistant from the axial center ofthe-chuck, and when the latter occupies its usual position in a latheand is rotated said points are adapted to enter and form a circularincision or score in a piece, 6, of wood or other material held at rightangles to the axis of the chuck against the tail-stock f of the latter,either the chuck or the tail-stock-preferably the former-being moved toforce the cutters into the material until it is entirely out through, acylindrical body or plug being thus separated from the piecec.

WVhen the chuck is made movable to force the cutters into the material Iprovide a lever,

h, pivoted at i to the frame of the lathe, and connected by suitablemeans to the arbor j of 0 the chuck, so that when turned on its pivot itwill move the arbor and chuck in one direction or the other, accordingto the direction in which the lever is moved.

The lever is provided with a treatlle, j, at its lower end, so that theoperator can move the chuck toward the tail-stock by depressing thetreadle. When the lever is released a spring it forces the lever back toits original position and withdraws the chuck from the tail-stock.

It will be seen that with the described mechanism cylindrical bodies orplugs of uniform size can be rapidly produced, the chuck being rotatedat a high rate of speed, so that only a momentary depression of thetreadle is required for the operation of cutting each plug. The plugsproduced are especially designed to be driven into auger-holes on shipsto cover the heads of bolts, 850.; hence it is important that theyshould be of uniform size. By adjusting the jaws plugs of any desiredsize may be produced.

The scoring-cutters, being equidistant from the axial center of thechuck, may be readily and perfectly sharpened by placing a cylindricalemery-stick between them.

I prefer to provide each tool-holder with a secondary cutter, I, soarranged with reference to the cutter d that it will chamfer or bevelthe end of the plug produced, and thus enable the plug to be driven moreeasily into its anger-hole. If desired, however, the cutters l may beformed with curved edges or ends, as shown in Fig. 4, adapted to cutaway a large portion or the whole of the end of the plug and formornamental annular beads and grooves thereon. \Vhen the cutters Zareformed as last described the plugs cut by the scoringcutters d are madeinto rosettes for ornamenting furniture, &c., and are produced much morerapidly than by the old method of turning in a lathe with a tool held bythe operator. A central rotating cutting-tool, m, may also be employedto finish the center of the rosette, said tool being on the end of a stiindlepawhich is in line with and rotates with the arbor of the chuck,and is adapted to form a boss or other finish on the center of therosette.

The apparatus described without the secondary cutters may be modified soas to cut tapering cork stoppers from a slab or block of cork. To thisend 1 make each tool-holder in two parts, 1 and 2, the part 1 being asocket or frame rigidly attached to its jaw, and the part 2 beingablockadapted to move in said frame toward and from the axial line of thechuck and pressed inward by springs 0, and adapted to be inclined withrelation to the axial line of the chuck. I also provide a rod orplunger, 9, which is inserted in a socket in the a bor of the chuck andprojects toward the tail-stock in line with said arbor, the outer end ofsaid plunger bearing against the material 0 to be cut. The plungerp isbacked by a spring, g, which forces it toward the tail-stock, and isprovided with a longitudinal slot,r,into which projects a pin or screw,8, attached to the chuck or to a collar thereof. Said slot and screwenable the plunger to slide independently of the chuck to a certainextent and cause the plunger to rotate with the chuck. The plunger isprovided with a tapering collar or pattern, t, which has the same taperas the corks to be produced, and is arranged to afford a bearin g forthe shanks of the cutters and hold the latter in inclined positions, asshown in Figs. 7,8, and 9.

When the chuck is in operation its movebetween their cutting ends andcause them to I give the desired taper to the cork.

It is often desirable to produce perforated or shell corks,and to thisend I make the end of the plun ger in the form of a punch 20, adapted tocut into the cork and remove a cylindrical core or small cork therefrom.The punch is caused to enter the cork partly by the rotation of theplunger with the chuck and partly by the force of the spring q; but thepunch does not commenoe to operate until the cutters d have'nearlycompleted their operation,the punch and pl unger being resisted andpressed back by the cork, so as to give the requisite movement to thepattern, as above described, until the spring q is compressedsufficiently to overcome the initial resistance of the surface of thecork to the punch. When the punch once effects an entrance into the corkits progress under the pressure of the spring q is rapid, so that itcompletes its work at the same moment that the cutters d sever the cork.

The punch is provided with a spring-plunger, o, to eject the coresremoved by it from the corks. The punch is so formed that the coresremoved have smooth surfaces, and are useful as stoppers for smallvials, 850.

If desired, the spring-plunger may be provided with a drill, c, to borea hole in a plug or button, it, formed by the cutters d, said plugserving as a nut or head to a wire handle inserted through a cork andpreventing said handle from being withdrawn.

The drill is prevented from entering the plug or button too deeply by ashoulder on the plunger. The plug or button can be formed by theoperation already described.

In case the end of the cork last out should be irregularly tapered inconsequence of the movement of the pattern with the punch while thelatter is perforating the cork, such irregu larly-tapered end can beremoved, if desired; but as it will usually be at the larger end of thecork the irregularity will not be detrimental.

It will be understood that in all cases when it is not desired toperforate the cork the plunger will have a suitable flat head to bearagainst the end of the cork and prevent the forward movement of theplunger and pattern.

The pattern 25 is removably attached to the plunger by being screwedinto a threaded portion of the plunger. The pattern may therefore beremoved and reversed, so as to cause the cutters to incline inwardlyfrom their rear ends to their points and cause the points of the cuttersto approach each other or contract as the pattern is moved, therebyenabling the cutting of a cork to be commenced at the larger end.

When the pattern is arranged as in Figs. 7,

8, and 9 the cutters expand and the cutting of the cork is commenced atthe smaller end.

Havingthus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Pat- 4 cut, is-

1. The combination of a universal or scroll chuck having thesimultaneously-moving radially-adjustable jaws, tool-holders attached tosaid jaws, and thin scoring-cutters attached to the tool-holders,adapted to score or cut a narrow annular incision in a piece of wood orcork, whereby a cylindrical plug or stopper of any desired size may beformed with a minimum waste of material in the form of cuttings orshavings.

2. The combination of a chuck having radially-movable jaws, a series ofcutters connected to said jaws and pressed inwardly toward the axialcenter of the chuck by springs,

20 and a plunger in line with the axial center of the chuck, forced by aspring against the ma terial to be cut by the cutters, and provided witha tapering pattern, forming a support for the shanks of the cutters andmoving the cutters radially while they are in operation, Whereby thecutters are caused to form a tapering cylinder or cork, as set forth.

3. In combination with a chuck and its radially-yielding cutters, thespring-impelled plunger adapted to rotate with the chuck, and providedwith the punch adapted to perforate a cork formed by the cutters, as setforth.

In testimony whereofI have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses, this 12th day of April, A. D.1880.

EDWARD OONROY.

Witnesses:

H. G. WADLIN, CARROLL I). WEIGHT.

